Aeroflot#Controversies

File:History Aeroflot Dobrolet.jpg]]

{{#section-h::Dobrolyot|History}}

File:Aeroflot ANT-20bis.jpg was used for cargo flights from Moscow to Mineralnye Vody before World War II.]]

In 1933, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union Congress in 1933 set out development plans for the civil aviation industry for the following five years, with air transportation becoming one of the primary means of transportation in the Soviet Union, linking all major cities. The government also implemented plans to expand the Soviet aircraft industry to make it less dependent on foreign built aircraft;{{rp|10–11}} in 1930, 50% of aircraft flying services in the Soviet Union were of foreign manufacture.{{rp|8}} Expansion of air routes which had taken shape in the late 1920s,{{rp|8}} continued into the 1930s. Local (MVL) services were greatly expanded in Soviet Central Asia and the Soviet Far East,{{rp|11–13}} which by the end of the second five-year plan in 1937 was {{convert|35000|km|mi}} in length out of a total network of {{convert|93300|km|mi}}.{{rp|13}} The agreement between the Soviet Union and Germany relating to Deruluft expired on 1 January 1937 and wasn't renewed, which saw the joint venture carrier ceasing operations on 1 April 1937. On that date Aeroflot began operations on the Moscow to Stockholm route, and began operating the ex-Deruluft route from Leningrad to Riga utilising Douglas DC-3s and Tupolev ANT-35s (PS-35s). Flights from Moscow to Berlin, via Königsberg, were suspended until 1940, when they were restarted by Aeroflot and Deutsche Luft Hansa as a result of the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, and they continued until the opening of the Eastern Front in World War II in 1941.{{rp|5}}File:Ps-84-nowarra135.jpg, modified by fitment of Soviet engines) at Moscow City Airport in 1940. The Lisunov Li-2, a license-built version of the DC-3, became the backbone of the Aeroflot fleet after the opening of the Eastern Front in World War II.]]

Under the third five-year plan, which began in 1938, civil aviation development continued, with improvements to airport installations being made and construction of airports being commenced. In addition to the expansion of services between the Soviet Union's main cities, local routes (MVL) were also expanded, and by 1940, 337 MVL routes had operations on a scheduled basis. Serial production of the Lisunov Li-2 (license-built Douglas DC-3) commenced in 1939, and the aircraft became the backbone of the Aeroflot fleet on mainline trunk routes. The day after Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany, on 22 June 1941, the Sovnarkom placed the Civil Air Fleet under the control of Narkomat, leading to the full-scale mobilisation of Aeroflot crews and technicians for the Soviet war effort. Prior to the invasion, the Aeroflot network extended over {{convert|146000|km|mi}}, and amongst the longest routes being operated from Moscow were those to Tbilisi (via Baku), Tashkent and Vladivostok.{{rp|13}} Aeroflot aircraft, including PS-35s and PS-43s, were based at Khodynka Aerodrome in Moscow; and important missions undertaken by Aeroflot aircraft and crews included flying supplies to the besieged cities of Leningrad, Kyiv, Odessa and Sevastopol.{{rp|14}} During the Battle of Stalingrad, between August 1942 and February 1943, Aeroflot operated 46,000 missions to Stalingrad, ferrying in {{convert|2587|t|lb}} of supplies and 30,000 troops. Following the defeat of the Wehrmacht, 80 Junkers Ju 52/3ms were captured from the Germans, and were placed into the service of the Civil Air Fleet, and after the war were placed into regular service across the Soviet Union.{{rp|15}} Whilst civil operations in European Russia west of the front line, which ran from Leningrad to Moscow to Rostov-on-Don, were prevented from operating because of the war, services from Moscow to the Urals, Siberia, Central Asia, and other regions which were not affected by the war, continued.{{rp|15–16}} By the end of the war, Aeroflot had flown 1,595,943 special missions, including 83,782 at night, and carried 1,538,982 men and {{convert|122027|t|lb}} of cargo.{{rp|16}}

File:Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-14 at Arlanda, November 1970.jpg operated on Aeroflot's All-Union services.]]

At the end of World War II, the Soviet government repaired and rebuilt essential airport infrastructure, and it strengthened the Aeroflot units in the European part of the Soviet Union. In 1945, Aeroflot carried 537,000 passengers, compared with 359,000 in 1940.{{rp|16}} The government made it a priority in the immediate postwar years to expand services from Moscow to the capital of each of the Republics of the Soviet Union, in addition to important industrial centres on the country and transferred to Aeroflot many Lisunov Li-2s, which became the backbone of the Aeroflot fleet.{{rp|17}} The Ilyushin Il-12 entered service on Aeroflot's all-Union scheduled routes on 22 August 1947, and supplemented already existing Li-2 services. The original Ilyushin Il-18 entered service around the same time as the Il-12, and was operated on routes from Moscow to Yakutsk, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Alma Ata, Tashkent, Sochi, Mineralnye Vody and Tbilisi. By 1950, the Il-18 was withdrawn from service, replaced by Il-12s.{{rp|18,20}} MVL and general aviation services received a boost in March 1948, when the first Antonov An-2s were delivered and entered service in Central Russia. Development of MVL services over latter years was attributed to the An-2, which was operated by Aeroflot in all areas of the Soviet Union.{{rp|20}}File:Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-104A at Arlanda, July 1972.jpg in 1956.]]

Aeroflot's route network had extended to {{convert|295400|km|mi}} by 1950, and it carried 1,603,700 passengers, {{convert|151070|t|lb}} of freight and {{convert|30580|t|lb}} of mail that year. Night flights began in the same year, and the fifth five-year plan, covering the period 1951–1955, emphasised Aeroflot expanding night-time operations, which vastly improved aircraft utilisation. By 1952, 700 destinations in the Soviet Union received regular flights from Aeroflot.{{rp|20}} On 30 November 1954, the Ilyushin Il-14 entered service, and the aircraft took a leading role in the operation of Aeroflot's all-Union services. The number of passengers carried in 1955 increased to 2,500,000, whilst freight and mail carriage also increased, to 194,960 and 63,760 tons, respectively. By this time, Aeroflot's route network covered a distance of {{convert|321500|km|mi}}.{{rp|21}} The 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, held in 1956, included plans for Aeroflot services to be dramatically increased 3.8 times, with a target of 16,000,000 annual passengers by 1960. To meet these goals, Aeroflot introduced higher capacity turbojet and turbine-prop aircraft on key domestic routes, and on services to Aeroflot destinations abroad. A major step for Aeroflot occurred on 15 September 1956 when the Tupolev Tu-104 jet aircraft entered service on the Moscow-Omsk-Irkutsk route, marking the world's first sustained jet airline service. The airline began international flights with the type on 12 October 1956 under the command of Boris Bugayev with flights from Moscow to Prague. The aircraft placed Aeroflot in an enviable position, as airlines in the West had operated throughout the 1950s with large piston-engined aircraft.{{rp|21}}{{Cite book | last=Davies | first=R.E.G. | author-link=R.E.G. Davies | title=Aeroflot: An Airline and Its Aircraft |edition=First | year=1992 | publisher=Paladwr Press | location=Rockville, Maryland | isbn=978-0-9626483-1-1}}{{rp|44}} By 1958, the route network covered {{convert|349200|km|mi}}, and the airline carried 8,231,500 passengers, and 445,600 tons of mail and freight, with fifteen percent of all-Union services being operated by jet aircraft.{{rp|23}}

File:Aeroflot Yakovlev Yak-40 in Sweden.jpg, introduced in September 1968.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}}]]

Aeroflot introduced the Antonov An-10 and Ilyushin Il-18 in 1959, and together with its existing jet aircraft, the airline was able to extend services on modern aircraft to twenty one cities by 1960.{{rp|23}} The Tupolev Tu-114, then the world's largest airliner, entered service with the Soviet carrier on 24 April 1961 on the Moscow-Khabarovsk route; covering a distance of {{convert|6980|km|mi}} in 8 hours 20 minutes.{{rp|24}} The expansion of the Aeroflot fleet saw services with modern aircraft being extended to forty one cities in 1961, with fifty percent of all-Union services being operated by these aircraft. This fleet expansion also saw the number of passengers carried in 1961 skyrocketing to 21,800,000.{{rp|24}} Further expansion came in 1962 when both the Tupolev Tu-124 and Antonov An-24 entered regular service with Aeroflot on various medium and short-haul routes. By 1964, Aeroflot operated direct flights from Moscow to 100 cities, from Leningrad to 44 cities, and from Kyiv to 38 cities. The airline also operated direct flights from Mineralnye Vody to 48 cities across the Soviet Union, denoting the importance of the operation of holiday aircraft services to Aeroflot.{{rp|26}} Statistics for the same year showed Aeroflot operating an all-Union route network extending over {{convert|400000|km|mi}}, and carrying 36,800,000 passengers.{{rp|27}}

By 1966, Aeroflot carried 47,200,000 passengers over a domestic route network of {{convert|474600|km|mi}}. For the period of the eighth five-year plan, which ran from 1966 to 1970, Aeroflot carried a total of 302,200,000 passengers, 6.47 billion tons of freight and 1.63 billion tons of mail.{{rp|27}} During the five-year plan period, all-Union services were extended over an additional 350 routes; an additional 1,000 MVL routes were begun, and 40 new routes were opened up with all-cargo flights.{{rp|27–28}} In 1967, the Ilyushin Il-62 and Tupolev Tu-134 were introduced, and in September 1968 the Yakovlev Yak-40 regional jet began operations on short-haul services. That same year, the Il-62 inaugurated the long-delayed service between Moscow and New York, which finally began in July and was operated by Aeroflot and Pan Am jointly. According to the book The Aeroflot Story: From Russia With Luck: "This business relationship became an acrimonious affair in which both parties complained it had been wronged by the other. Pan Am accused the Soviets of illegally siphoning away Moscow-to-New York passengers, whilst in turn; Aeroflot accused US consular officials in Russia of having steered passengers to Pan Am flights."{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/04/archives/pan-am-accuses-aeroflot-of-stealing-passengers.html | last=Witkin | first=Richard | title=Pan Am Accuses Aeroflot of Stealing Passengers | work=The New York Times | date=4 May 1971 | url-access=limited}} In 1968, the company opened its first office in the United States.{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/07/22/archives/news-of-realty-aeroflot-office-soviet-company-to-occupy-49th-street.html | title=NEWS OF REALTY: AEROFLOT OFFICE; Soviet Company to Occupy 49th Street Building | work=The New York Times | date=22 July 1968 | url-access=limited}}

File:Flag of the Aeroflot.svg

By 1970, the last year of the five-year plan period, Aeroflot was operating flights to over 3,500 destinations in the Soviet Union, and at the height of the 1970 summer holidays season, the airline was carrying approximately 400,000 passengers per day, and 90% of passengers were being carried on propeller-turbine and jet aircraft.{{rp|28}} In March 1970, Aeroflot had amassed a route network that was {{convert|600000|km|abbr=off}} long, a quarter of which covered international destinations. At this time, the carrier had agreements with {{cardinal|59}} countries but it only served {{cardinal|54}} of them, including {{cardinal|55}} destinations.{{cite journal |title=World airlines 1970 – Aeroflot | journal=Flight International|volume= 97|number= 3185|date= 26 March 1970 |pages=[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1970/1970%20-%200513.html 463], [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1970/1970%20-%200514.html 464]}}{{rp|463}} In January 1971, the Central Administration of International Air Traffic ({{langx|ru|link=no|Центральное управление международных воздушных сообщений}}) (TsUMVS) was established within the framework of IATA, and became the sole enterprise authorised to operate international flights. Abroad, the airline was known as Aeroflot Soviet Airlines. In 1976, Aeroflot carried its 100 millionth passenger. Its flights were mainly concentrated around the Soviet Union, but the airline also had an international network covering five continents: North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia. The network included countries such as the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Cuba, Mexico and the People's Republic of China.{{cite encyclopedia | url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Aeroflot | title=Aeroflot – Russian airline | encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica | date=8 March 2024}}

Aeroflot service between the Soviet Union and the United States was interrupted from 15 September 1983 until 2 August 1990, following an executive order by U.S. President Ronald Reagan revoking Aeroflot's license to operate flights into and out of the United States following the downing of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 by the Soviet Air Force. Flights resumed in April 1986.{{Cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1986/04/30/aeroflot-has-returned-to-the-us-and-dulles/c64c4f86-df69-448e-b6ed-53f7ed39f691/ | title=Aeroflot Has Returned To the U.S. and Dulles | first=Michael | last=Specter | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=April 30, 1986}} At the start of the 1990s, Aeroflot reorganised again giving more autonomy to territorial divisions. R. E. G. Davies, former curator of the Smithsonian Institution, claims that by 1992 Aeroflot had over 600,000 people operating over 10,000 aircraft.{{rp|92,94}}

File:Aeroflot Mil Mi-10 at Groningen Airport.jpg in the early 1970s]]

Aeroflot had a monopoly on all civil aviation activities within the Soviet Union, including services related to air ambulance; aerial application; heavy lifting for the Soviet space program; offshore oil platform support; exploration and aeromagnetic survey for natural resources; support for construction projects; transport of military troops and supplies (as an adjunct to the Soviet Air Force); atmospheric research; and aerial surveillance. It operated hundreds of helicopters and cargo aircraft in addition to civil airliners. It also operated the Soviet equivalent of a presidential aircraft and other VIP transports of government and Communist party officials.{{rp|94}} Aeroflot was also responsible for such services as ice patrol in the Arctic Ocean and escorting of ships through frozen seas; oil exploration; power line surveillance; and transportation and heavy lifting support on construction projects. For the latter tasks, Aeroflot used, in addition to smaller helicopters, the Mil Mi-10 flying crane capable of lifting {{convert|11000 to 14000|kg|lb}}. Hauling of heavy cargo, including vehicles, was performed by the world's largest operational helicopter, the Mil Mi-26. Its unusual eight-blade rotor enabled it to lift a maximum payload of 20 tons. The medium- and long-range passenger- and cargo aircraft of Aeroflot were also part of the strategic air transport reserve, ready to provide immediate airlift support to the armed forces. Short-range aircraft and helicopters were available for appropriate military support missions.{{Cite book | url=https://www.soclabo.org/index.php/laboratorium/article/view/1011/2445 | title=THE WORLD'S LARGEST AIRLINE: HOW AEROFLOT LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND BECAME A CORPORATION | first=Steven E. | last=Harris | work=Laboratorium: Russian Review of Social Research | via=soclabo.org | year=2021| volume=13 | issue=1 | pages=20–56 }}{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Klv5twEACAAJ | title=The Aeroflot Story: From Russia with Luck | first=Mark | last=Jones | publisher=Amazon Digital Services | via=Google Books | date=May 14, 2018| isbn=978-1-9810-9471-4 }} Aeroflot also participated in espionage during the Cold War.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-12-28/kgb-used-aeroflot-jets-as-spy-planes-u-k-files-show | title=KGB Used Aeroflot Jets as Spy Planes, U.K. Files Show | first1=Robert | last1=Hutton | first2=Thomas | last2=Penny | work=Bloomberg News | date=28 December 2012 | url-access=subscription}}

File:Aeroflot.svg" is the most recognisable symbol of Aeroflot.]]

After the Dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, service expanded significantly.{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/12/business/aeroflot-takes-aim-at-the-postcommunist-world.html | title=Aeroflot Takes Aim at the Post-Communist World | first=G. Bruce | last=Knecht | work=The New York Times | date=January 12, 1992 | url-access=limited}} Up until that time, Aeroflot had been the only establishment providing air services throughout the Soviet Union, but with its breakup Aeroflot branches of these countries began their own services, and the airline itself came under control of Russia, the largest of the CIS republics, and was renamed Aeroflot{{spaced ndash}}Russian International Airlines (ARIA).{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/04/travel/travel-advisory-correspondent-s-report-with-400-pieces-aeroflot-passenger-puzzle.html | title=With 400 Pieces, Aeroflot Is a Passenger Puzzle | first=Steven | last=Erlanger | newspaper=The New York Times | date=4 December 1994 | url-access=limited | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907045954/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/04/travel/travel-advisory-correspondent-s-report-with-400-pieces-aeroflot-passenger-puzzle.html | archive-date=7 September 2012 | url-status=live | df=dmy}} In 1992, Aeroflot was divided into approximately 400 regional airlines informally known as Babyflots, which included BAL Bashkirian Airlines, KrasAir, Moscow Airways and Tatarstan Airlines, with Aeroflot keeping the international routes.{{Cite news | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-12-11-9412110362-story.html | title=DISSECTING THE AEROFLOT BREAKUP | work=Chicago Tribune | date=December 11, 1994 | url-access=subscription}}

In 1994, Aeroflot was registered as a joint-stock company and the government sold 49% of its stake to Aeroflot employees. In the 1990s, Aeroflot was primarily focused on international flights from Moscow. However, by the end of the decade, Aeroflot expanded in the domestic market. In 2000, the company name was changed to Aeroflot{{spaced ndash}}Russian Airlines to reflect the change in the company strategy.{{cite web | url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/aeroflot-russian-airlines-jsc | title=Aeroflot - Russian Airlines JSC | publisher=Encyclopedia.com}} The Aeroflot fleet shrank dramatically in the post-Soviet era, dropping from 5,400 planes in 1991 to 115 in 1996.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/29/business/hold-the-jokes-please-aeroflot-buffs-its-image.html | title=Hold the Jokes, Please: Aeroflot Buffs Its Image | last=Stanley | first=Alessandra | work=The New York Times | date=29 June 1997 | url-access=limited | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620143208/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/29/business/hold-the-jokes-please-aeroflot-buffs-its-image.html?pagewanted=print |archive-date=20 June 2014 | url-status=live}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/07/world/a-face-lift-for-down-at-heel-aeroflot.html | title=A Face-Lift for Down-at-Heel Aeroflot | first=Michael | last=Wines | newspaper=The New York Times | date=7 April 2003 | url-access=limited | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905161424/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/07/world/a-face-lift-for-down-at-heel-aeroflot.html | archive-date=5 September 2012 | url-status=live}}

In 1995, Boris Berezovsky played a key role in a management reshuffle that led to Nikolai Glushkov becoming CFO of the company. The two were later accused of embezzling from the airline, laundering the money through two Swiss companies, Forus and Andava.{{Cite news | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/life-aging/federal-prosecutor-says-aeroflot-investigation-strengthened-swiss-ties-with-russia/1588834 | title=Federal prosecutor says Aeroflot investigation strengthened Swiss ties with Russia | work=SWI swissinfo | date=29 July 2000}} In 2010, CHF51 million in frozen assets in Swiss bank accounts were returned to Aeroflot.{{Cite news | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/life-aging/swiss-return-frozen-aeroflot-assets/27356336 | title=Swiss return frozen Aeroflot assets | work=SWI swissinfo | date=27 August 2010}}

In the early 2000s, the airline hired British consultants for rebranding.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2986535.stm | title=No more service with a scowl | work=BBC News | date=29 April 2003 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320234526/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2986535.stm | archive-date=20 March 2012 | url-status=live}} From the start, plans were afoot to replace the hammer and sickle logo, a symbol of Soviet communism; despite this the logo was not scrapped, as it was the most recognisable symbol of the company for over 70 years. A new Aircraft livery and uniforms for flight attendants were designed and a promotional campaign launched in 2003.{{cite news | url=https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/8035/ |title=Aeroflot keeps hammer and (sick)le | newspaper=The Baltic Times | date=1 May 2003}} Its fleet has undergone a major reorganisation during which most of the Soviet aircraft were replaced by Western-built jets; concerns over fuel consumption rather than safety concerns were cited for such a move.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/business/global/29aeroflot.html | title=Aeroflot Sheds Its Soviet Legacy and Turns to a Western Fleet | first=Andrew E. | last=Kramer | newspaper=The New York Times | date=28 July 2009 | url-access=limited | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905170815/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/business/global/29aeroflot.html?_r=1 |archive-date=5 September 2012 | url-status=live}} Airbus A319s and A320s for short-haul flights in Europe; and Boeing 767s and Airbus A330s for long-haul routes; were gradually incorporated into the Aeroflot fleet. Aeroflot began working with the US travel technology firm Sabre Corporation in 1997, and in 2004 signed an agreement to use Sabre's software as its new computer reservation system,{{cite press release |title=Aeroflot Russian Airlines Selects SabreSonic as Its New Generation Reservation Solution | url=https://www.sabre.com/insights/releases/aeroflot-russian-airlines-selects-sabresonic-as-its-new-generation-reservation-solution/ | publisher=Sabre Corporation | date=30 April 2004}} further extending the relationship with Sabre in 2010.{{cite press release |title=Aeroflot extends agreement for SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service reservations system | url=https://www.sabre.com/insights/releases/aeroflot-extends-agreement-for-sabresonic-customer-sales-and-service-reservations-system/ | publisher=Sabre Corporation | date=26 April 2010}} On 29 July 2004, a new corporate slogan was adopted: "Sincerely Yours. Aeroflot".{{cite web | title=Aeroflot new slogan | publisher=Aeroflot | date=29 July 2004 | url=https://www.aeroflot.com/ru-en/news/1116 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620140527/http://www.aeroflot.com/cms/en/new/1116 | archive-date=20 June 2014 | url-status=live}}

In April 2006, Aeroflot became the tenth airline to join SkyTeam, and the first air carrier in the former Soviet Union to do so. The company announced plans to increase cargo operations. It registered the Aeroflot-Cargo trademark in 2006.

Aeroflot became the sole shareholder of Donavia—a domestic airline then-named Aeroflot-Don{{Cite news |title=Russia's Aeroflot-Don to rebrand as Donavia | first=David |last=Kaminski-Morrow | url=https://www.flightglobal.com/russias-aeroflot-don-to-rebrand-as-donavia/89152.article |agency=Air Transport Intelligence news | work=FlightGlobal | date=22 September 2009 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123210502/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/russias-aeroflot-don-to-rebrand-as-donavia-332591/ |archive-date=23 January 2013 | url-status=live}}—in December 2006, when it boosted its stake in the company from 51% to 100%; soon afterwards, Aeroflot-Nord was created following the buyout of Arkhangelsk Airlines.{{Cite news | title=Arranged marriages: Russia focus |publisher=FlightGlobal |first=Günter |last=Endres |date=19 February 2007 | url=https://www.flightglobal.com/arranged-marriages-russia-focus/72141.article | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523134956/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/arranged-marriages-russia-focus-212247/ | archive-date=23 May 2013 | url-status=live}}

File:Aeroflot A321-200 VP-BWN SVO 2008-9-15.png holds for departure whilst an Ilyushin Il-96 lands at Aeroflot's Moscow-Sheremetyevo hub in 2008]]

File:Rossiya, EI-UNN, Boeing 777-312 (32182478212).jpg Boeing 777-300 in the new livery lands at Pulkovo Airport in 2016. In November 2011, Aeroflot received 75% minus one share of Rossiya along with the shares of four other carriers.]]

In December 2009, after it filed for bankruptcy, Aeroflot-Cargo merged into Aeroflot.{{Cite news | url=https://airline341.rssing.com/chan-21278212/all_p1.html#c21278212a11 | title=Aeroflot Cargo was merged back into Aeroflot on December 1, 2009 | date=4 February 2010}}

In November 2011, Rostec, a state agency, merged five airlines it owned - Vladivostok Avia, Saravia, Rossiya Airlines, SAT Airlines and Orenair - into Aeroflot, acquiring an additional 3.5% of the company in a ₽2.5 billion deal.{{Cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/russias-rostechnology-finalizes-transfer-five-regional-carriers-aeroflot | title=Russia's Rostechnology finalizes transfer of five regional carriers to Aeroflot | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | first=Polina | last=Borodina | date=22 November 2011 | url-access=subscription | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616081150/http://atwonline.com/airline-finance-data/news/russia-s-rostechnology-finalizes-transfer-five-regional-carriers-aeroflot- | archive-date=16 June 2012 | url-status=live}} Saravia was then sold to private investors.{{Cite news | title=Aeroflot sells regional subsidiary | first1=Polina |last1=Borodina | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=2 January 2012 | url=https://aviationweek.com/aeroflot-sells-regional-subsidiary | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111150636/http://atwonline.com/airline-finance-data/news/aeroflot-sells-regional-subsidiary-0102 | archive-date=11 November 2012 | url-status=live}} In September 2013, Aurora (originally called Taiga) was created, combining Vladivostok Air and SAT Airlines.{{cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/aeroflot-launch-far-east-subsidiary-3q | title=Aeroflot to launch Far East subsidiary in 3Q | first=Polina | last=Borodina | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=13 June 2013 | url-access=subscription | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030200551/http://atwonline.com/finance-amp-data/aeroflot-launch-far-east-subsidiary-3q | archive-date=30 October 2013 | url-status=live}}{{cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/aeroflot-provides-135-million-loan-far-east-subsidiary | last=Borodina | first=Polina |title=Aeroflot provides a $13.5 million loan for Far East subsidiary | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology |date=25 October 2013 | url-access=subscription | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030092128/http://atwonline.com/finance-amp-data/aeroflot-provides-135-million-loan-far-east-subsidiary | archive-date=30 October 2013 | url-status=live}}{{cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/russias-aeroflot-creates-far-east-subsidiary-taiga-airline | title=Russia's Aeroflot creates Far East subsidiary Taiga Airline | first=Polina | last=Borodina | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=10 September 2013 | url-access=subscription | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921135748/http://atwonline.com/finance-amp-data/russia-s-aeroflot-creates-far-east-subsidiary-taiga-airline |archive-date=21 September 2013 | url-status=live}}{{cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/aeroflot-subsidiary-aurora-airline-set-launch-operations | last=Borodina |first=Polina | title=Aeroflot subsidiary Aurora Airline set to launch operations | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=6 November 2013 | url-access=subscription | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107113624/http://atwonline.com/finance-amp-data/aeroflot-subsidiary-aurora-airline-set-launch-operations | archive-date=7 November 2013 | url-status=live}}

In June 2013, at the World Airline Awards which took place at the {{ordinal|50}} Le Bourget air show, Aeroflot was awarded the international prize as the best air carrier in Eastern Europe.{{cite news | url=https://tass.com/archive/695229 | title=Aeroflot recognized as best air carrier in Eastern Europe | work=Itar-Tass | date=18 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620141343/http://en.itar-tass.com/archive/695229 | archive-date=20 June 2014 | url-status=live}}

In October 2013, the company introduced an affiliated low-cost carrier (LCC), Dobrolet.{{cite press release |title=Aeroflot Introduces New Low-Cost Airline – Dobrolet | url=https://www.aeroflot.ru/ru-en/news/33423 | publisher=Aeroflot | date=10 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028145623/http://www.aeroflot.ru/cms/en/new/33423 | archive-date=28 October 2013 | url-status=live}} It started operations in June 2014;{{cite news | title=Aeroflot subsidiary Dobrolet launches flights | first=Polina | last=Borodina | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=10 June 2014 | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/aeroflot-subsidiary-dobrolet-launches-flights |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610182758/http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/aeroflot-subsidiary-dobrolet-launches-flights | archive-date=10 June 2014 | url-status=live}} however, it ceased on {{end date|2014|8|4|df=yes}} due to EU sanctions over the airline launching flights to Crimea.{{cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/safety-ops-regulation/russias-dobrolet-ceases-operations-due-eu-sanctions | title=Russia's Dobrolet ceases operations due to EU sanctions | first=Polina | last=Borodina | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=4 August 2014 | url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827003412/http://atwonline.com/government-affairs/russia-s-dobrolet-ceases-operations-due-eu-sanctions | archive-date=27 August 2014 | url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Dobrolet halts flights as EU sanctions block jet lease | first=David | last=Kaminski-Morrow | location=London | work=Flightglobal | date=3 August 2014 | url=https://www.flightglobal.com/dobrolet-halts-flights-as-eu-sanctions-block-jet-lease/114107.article | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827102808/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dobrolet-halts-flights-as-eu-sanctions-block-jet-lease-402320/ | archive-date=27 August 2014 | url-status=live}} In late August 2014, Aeroflot announced the launch of Pobeda, a new LCC to replace Dobrolet using aircraft transferred from Orenair.{{cite news | title=Aeroflot to launch new LCC subsidiary | first=Polina | last=Borodina | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=26 August 2014 | url-access=subscription | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/aeroflot-launch-new-lcc-subsidiary | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827004258/http://atwonline.com/finance-data/aeroflot-launch-new-lcc-subsidiary |archive-date=27 August 2014 | url-status=live}} It started operations from Vnukovo Airport in December 2014.{{cite news | title=Aeroflot acts to relaunch its LCC project with Pobeda after Group profits fell again in 3Q2014 | work=CAPA Centre for Aviation | date=3 December 2014 | url=https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/aeroflot-acts-to-relaunch-its-lcc-project-with-pobeda-after-group-profits-fell-again-in-3q2014-199255 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203133223/http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/aeroflot-acts-to-relaunch-its-lcc-project-with-pobeda-after-group-profits-fell-again-in-3q2014-199255 | archive-date=3 December 2014 | url-status=live}}{{cite news | title=Aeroflot subsidiary Pobeda launches flights | first=Polina | last=Borodina | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=1 December 2014 | url-access=subscription | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-routes/aeroflot-subsidiary-pobeda-launches-flights | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202003543/http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/aeroflot-subsidiary-pobeda-launches-flights | archive-date=2 December 2014 | url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/new-aeroflot-budget-carrier-discloses-network | title=New Aeroflot budget carrier discloses network | first=Polina | last=Borodina | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=16 October 2014 | url-access=subscription | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018133040/http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/new-aeroflot-budget-carrier-discloses-network | archive-date=18 October 2014 | url-status=live}}

In March 2014, as a response to the Revolution of Dignity, the company announced rerouting of flights to avoid flying over Ukraine.{{cite news | title=Отказ летать над Украиной мог стать причиной падения акций "Аэрофлота" на 9,8% | url=https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2014/03/13/97910-otkaz-letat-nad-ukrainoy-mog-stat-prichinoy-padeniya-aktsiy-171-aeroflota-187-na-9-8 |newspaper=Novaya Gazeta |date=13 March 2014}}{{cite news |title=Акции "Аэрофлота" упали на 9,8% до 52,8 рубля за бумагу по итогам торгов на Московской бирже.|url=http://itar-tass.com/ekonomika/1043501 |newspaper=ITAR-TASS |date=13 March 2014}} Also, in March 2014, Aeroflot{{'s}} IATA airline designator ″SU″ was adopted by its subsidiary Rossiya.{{cite news | title=Russia's Rossiya Airlines names new chairman | first=Polina | last=Montag-Girmes | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=23 July 2015 |url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/russias-rossiya-airlines-names-new-chairman | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726235042/http://atwonline.com/people/russia-s-rossiya-airlines-names-new-chairman | archive-date=26 July 2015 | url-status=live}} In September 2015, Aeroflot agreed to acquire 75% of Transaero Airlines for the symbolic price of ₽1,{{cite news| title=Aeroflot to Buy Transaero in Tie-Up of Russia's Biggest Airlines | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-01/aeroflot-to-buy-transaero-in-tie-up-of-russia-s-biggest-airlines | first=Anatoly | last=Medetsky | work=Bloomberg News| date=1 September 2015}} but abandoned the plan after failing to come to terms on a takeover.{{cite news | title=Russia's Aeroflot says drops plans to acquire Transaero | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/russia-aeroflot-transaero-idUKL5N12149120151001/ | last=Soldatkin | first=Vladimir | work=Reuters | date=1 October 2015}} Aeroflot instead took over several of Transaero's aircraft by assuming its leases after Transaero ceased operations in December 2015, introducing the Boeing 747 and Boeing 777 to the Aeroflot fleet and allowing the company to cancel some of its jet orders.{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-14/aeroflot-says-transaero-jet-rush-to-crimp-airbus-boeing-orders | title=Aeroflot's Transaero Jet-Rush to Crimp Airbus, Boeing Orders | last1=Jasper | first1=Christopher | last2=Pronina | first2=Lyubov | work=Bloomberg News | date=14 April 2016 | url-access=subscription}}

Subsidiaries Rossiya Airlines, Donavia and Orenair combined operations in late March 2016.{{cite press release | url=https://www.aeroflot.ru/ru-en/news/59928 | title=Rossiya Airlines, Aeroflot Group's Newly Merged Regional Carrier, Begins Flights | publisher=Aeroflot | date=28 March 2016 | archive-date=9 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209152001/http://www.aeroflot.ru/ru-en/new/59928 | url-status=live}} Orenair{{'s}} AOC was cancelled by Russian authorities in late {{end date|2016|5}}.{{cite news | last=Montag-Girmes | first=Polina | title=Aeroflot files for bankruptcy of Orenair, Donavia subsidiaries |url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/aeroflot-files-bankruptcy-orenair-donavia-subsidiaries | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=17 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119141248/http://atwonline.com/airlines/aeroflot-files-bankruptcy-orenair-donavia-subsidiaries |archive-date=19 January 2017 | url-status=live}}{{cite news | title=Russian authorities cancel Orenair's AOC |first=Polina |last=Montag-Girmes |publisher=Air Transport World | date=6 June 2016 | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/russian-authorities-cancel-orenairs-aoc | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618164145/http://atwonline.com/airlines/russian-authorities-cancel-orenair-s-aoc | archive-date=18 June 2016 | url-status=live}} Donavia and Orenair were declared bankrupt in 2017.{{cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/russian-court-declares-aeroflot-subsidiary-donavia-bankrupt | title=Russian court declares Aeroflot subsidiary Donavia bankrupt | first=Polina | last=Montag-Girmes | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816155611/http://atwonline.com/airlines/russian-court-declares-aeroflot-subsidiary-donavia-bankrupt | archive-date=16 August 2017 | url-status=live}}

In June 2018, the company signed a codeshare agreement with Aerolineas Argentinas.{{cite news | last=Montag-Girmes |first=Polina | title=Aeroflot to codeshare with Aerolineas Argentinas | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-networks/aeroflot-codeshare-aerolineas-argentinas | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=4 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617160322/http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/aeroflot-codeshare-aerolineas-argentinas |archive-date=17 June 2018 | url-status=live}}

In December 2020, the company sold its 51% stake in Aurora to Sakhalin Region Development Corporation for ₽1.{{Cite news | url=https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/aeroflot-group-to-divest-eastern-carrier-aurora/141666.article | title=Aeroflot Group to divest eastern carrier Aurora | first=David | last=Kaminski-Morrow | work=FlightGlobal | date=17 December 2020}}{{Cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/aeroflot-sells-subsidiary-boost-russian-far-east-air-transport | title=Aeroflot Sells Subsidiary To Boost Russian Far East Air Transport | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=23 December 2020 | url-access=subscription}}

File:Aeroflot - Airbus A350-900 - RA-73156 "G. Volchek".png in Aeroflot livery]]

In February and March 2022, as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Aeroflot and other Russian airlines were banned from the airspace of many countries and several routes were cancelled as a result.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60539303 | title=Ukraine invasion: More countries issue airspace ban on Russian planes | work=BBC News | date=26 February 2022}}{{cite news | url=https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/what-are-the-russia-sanctions-the-full-list-of-uk-measures-over-ukraine-from-oligarchs-to-sovereign-debt-1481705 | title=The full list of new UK sanctions on Russia over Ukraine, from oligarchs to sovereign debt | work=i | date=24 February 2022}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-planes-barred-from-airspace-over-europe-canada-11645995117 |last=Sider | first=Alison | title=Russian Planes Barred From Airspace Over Europe, Canada | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=27 February 2022 | url-access=subscription | issn=0099-9660}}{{cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/27/canada-nordic-countries-join-in-closing-their-airspace-to-russian-planes.html | last=Bursztynsky | first=Jessica | title=Canada, Nordic countries join in closing their airspace to Russian planes | work=CNBC | date=27 February 2022}}{{Cite magazine | title=Biden Bans Russian Aircraft from US Airspace | url=https://www.airwaysmag.com/legacy-posts/biden-bans-russian-aircraft | first=John | last=Huston | magazine=Airways Magazine | date=3 February 2022}}{{cite news | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/5/aeroflot-halting-all-foreign-flights-minus-belarus-from-march-8 | title=Aeroflot halting all foreign flights, minus Belarus, from March 8 | work=Al Jazeera English | date=5 March 2022}} Russian airlines were added to the list of air carriers banned in the European Union for safety reasons because planes were re-registered in Russia and no longer had foreign airworthiness certificates.{{cite press release | url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_2389 | title=Aviation safety: 20 Russian airlines added to EU Air Safety List | publisher=European Commission |date=11 April 2022}} The U.S. Department of Commerce banned companies from servicing Boeing planes operated by Aeroflot, Aviastar, Azur Air, Belavia, Rossiya and Utair.{{cite news | title=US Broadens Restrictions on Belarus National Airline After Violations |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-broadens-restrictions-on-belarus-national-airline-after-violations-/6620206.html | work=Voice of America | date=16 June 2022}} Manchester United F.C. cancelled its sponsorship agreement that made Aeroflot its official carrier since July 2013.{{cite news | title=Ukraine crisis: Man Utd terminate Aeroflot deal | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60520927 |website=BBC News | date=25 February 2022}}{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/manchester-united-engman_utd/story/4602413/man-united-cut-sponsorship-with-russian-airline-aeroflot-amid-ukraine-invasion |title=Man United cut sponsorship with Russian airline Aeroflot amid Ukraine invasion | first=Rob | last=Dawson | work=ESPN |date=25 February 2022}} Sabre Corporation and others removed access by Aeroflot to their computer reservation systems and global distribution systems.{{cite press release |title=Sabre terminates distribution agreement with Aeroflot |url=https://www.sabre.com/insights/releases/sabre-terminates-distribution-agreement-with-aeroflot/ | publisher=Sabre Corporation |date=3 March 2022}}

In response to the international sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Aeroflot migrated to a Russian-based passenger service system,{{Cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/russian-airlines-migrate-local-passenger-service-systems | title=Russian Airlines Migrate To Local Passenger Service Systems | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=3 November 2022}} began sourcing aircraft parts via obscure trading companies, free-trade zones and middlemen in countries that have not imposed sanctions on Russia such as United Arab Emirates and China,{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/sanctions-russias-commercial-airlines-face-a-slow-death/a-63804157 |title=Sanctions: Russia's commercial airlines face a slow death | work=Deutsche Welle | date=18 November 2022}}{{cite news | first1=Ana | last1=Swanson | first2=Niraj | last2=Chokshi | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/business/economy/russia-airlines-sanctions-ukraine.html |title=U.S.-Made Technology Is Flowing to Sanctioned Russian Airlines | work=The New York Times | date=15 May 2023 | url-access=limited}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/how-russia-keeps-its-fleet-western-jets-air-2023-08-23/ | title=How Russia keeps its fleet of Western jets in the air | first1=David | last1=Gauthier-Villars | first2=Gleb | last2=Stolyarov | work=Reuters | date=23 August 2023}} and placed orders for Russian-made jets such as the Yakovlev MC-21 to reduce its dependence on foreign-made jets.{{Cite news | url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2022-09-07/aeroflot-signs-339-russian-made-jets | title=Aeroflot Signs for 339 Russian-made Jets | first=VLADIMIR | last=KARNOZOV | work=Aviation International News | date=7 September 2022}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fleets/why-order-for-russian-jets-will-turn-aeroflot-into-a-replica-of-its-former-self/150202.article | title=Why order for Russian jets will turn Aeroflot into a replica of its former self | first=Dominic | last=Perry | work=FlightGlobal | date=15 September 2022}}{{Cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/aircraft-propulsion/yakovlev-confirms-russian-mc-21-certification-delay | title=Yakovlev Confirms Russian MC-21 Certification Delay | work=Aviation Week | date=6 May 2025}}

In September 2023, Aeroflot paid $645 million to acquire 17 aircraft and five spare jet engines that were leased to Aeroflot and owned by AerCap and were stranded in Russia upon the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/aircraft-lessor-aercap-settles-russia-aeroflot-claim-645-million-2023-09-06/ | title=Lessor AerCap agrees settlement over Aeroflot jets stranded in Russia | first=Conor | last=Humphries | work=Reuters | date=6 September 2023}}

Management of the company is appointed by the Russian government due to its ownership stake.

• Yevgeny Shaposhnikov (November 1995 - March 1997){{Cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1996-12-22/aeroflot-gets-in-the-game | title=Aeroflot Gets In The Game | first=Carol | last=Matlack | work=Bloomberg News | date=22 December 1997 | url-access=subscription}}
• Valery Okulov, a son-in-law of Boris Yeltsin (May 1997 - March 2009){{Cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLQ62703820090326/ | title=Aeroflot board fires CEO Okulov-ministry source | first=Anton | last=Doroshev | work=Reuters | date=26 March 2009}}
• Vitaly Savelyev (2009 - 2020){{cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/saveliev-lead-aeroflot-next-five-years | title=Saveliev to lead Aeroflot for next five years | first=Polina | last=Borodina | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=18 September 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054432/http://atwonline.com/people/saveliev-lead-aeroflot-next-five-years | archive-date=21 September 2013 | url-status=live}}{{cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/savelyev-re-elected-aeroflot-ceo | title=Savelyev re-elected as Aeroflot CEO | first=Polina | last=Montag-Girmes | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=29 August 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913194713/http://atwonline.com/airlines/savelyev-re-elected-aeroflot-ceo | archive-date=13 September 2018 | url-status=live}}
• Mikhail Poluboyarinov (2020-2022){{Cite news | url=https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/aeroflot-appoints-head-of-rossiya-as-new-chief-executive/148220.article | title=Aeroflot appoints head of Rossiya as new chief executive | first=David | last=Kaminski-Morrow | work=FlightGlobal | date=11 April 2022}}
• Sergei Alexandrovsky (2022-present)

• Yevgeny Dietrich (2018 - 2020){{cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/aeroflot-group-makes-management-changes | last=Montag-Girmes | first=Polina | title=Aeroflot Group makes management changes | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=12 December 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230171119/http://atwonline.com/people/aeroflot-group-makes-management-changes |archive-date=30 December 2018 | url-status=live}}
• Mikhail Poluboyarinov (2020-2022)
• Sergei Alexandrovsky (2022-present)

File:Moscow, Arbat 12-10.JPG

The headquarters of Aeroflot are on Arbat Street, Arbat District, Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow.{{Cite web |url=https://www.aeroflot.ru/us-en/about/requisites | title=Company details | publisher=Aeroflot}}

The Federal Agency for State Property Management, an agency of the Government of Russia, owns 73.77% of the company, with the rest of the shares being public float.

The company owns airline subsidiaries Pobeda and Rossiya Airlines.{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroflot.com/ru-en/about/aeroflot_today/company_profile | title=Company Profile: Our alliance and partnerships | publisher=Aeroflot}}

{{Main|List of Aeroflot destinations}}

In September 2018, Aeroflot served 146 destinations in 52 countries.{{cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airports-routes/vietnam-airlines-aeroflot-expand-cooperation | last1=Hofmann | first1=Kurt | title=Vietnam Airlines, Aeroflot to expand cooperation | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=10 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917002918/http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/vietnam-airlines-aeroflot-expand-cooperation | archive-date=17 September 2018 | url-status=live}} In 2022, the number of destinations was significantly reduced after many countries banned Russian aircraft as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It currently operates service to/from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Cuba, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.{{Cite web | title=Aeroflot Flights and Destinations | date=21 March 2024 | publisher=FlightConnections | url=https://www.flightconnections.com/route-map-aeroflot-su}}{{cite web | title=Table of Routes | url=https://www.aeroflot.ru/ru-en/online_services/flights/ways_map/ways_map_table | publisher=Aeroflot}}

Aeroflot has active codeshare agreements with the following airlines:{{Cite web | url=https://www.aeroflot.ru/ru-en/about/aviation_partners/code_sharing/spec_food_flight |title=Codeshare flights | website=Aeroflot}}

• Aurora
• Cubana de Aviación{{cite web |url=http://centreforaviation.com/profiles/airlines/cubana-de-aviacion-cu | title=Profile on Cubana de Aviacion |website=CAPA Centre for Aviation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413124623/https://centreforaviation.com/profiles/airlines/cubana-de-aviacion-cu |archive-date=13 April 2017 |url-status=live}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.ruaviation.com/news/2024/3/19/19060/ | title=Cuba discussing options to expand air service with Russia | work=Russian Aviation | date=19 March 2024}}
• Pobeda
• Rossiya Airlines

File:Aeroflot Group fleet size.png

{{See also|Aeroflot fleet}}

The Aeroflot fleet consists of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft from five aircraft families: the Airbus A320, the Airbus A330, the Airbus A350 XWB, the Boeing 737, and the Boeing 777. The fleet, excluding subsidiaries, includes 171 airplanes: 112 Airbus planes and 59 Boeing planes. The company plans on making the Yakovlev MC-21 its flagship plane, with deliveries expected to start in 2026.

File:VP-BDK at STR.jpg in SkyTeam livery|alt=]]

Aeroflot was a member of SkyTeam airline alliance from April 2006 until 27 April 2022, when its membership was suspended as part of the corporate responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{cite news | title=Aeroflot Becomes 10th Airline to Join SkyTeam | newspaper=The Moscow Times | date=17 April 2006 | url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/archive/aeroflot-becomes-10th-airline-to-join-skyteam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620140051/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/aeroflot-becomes-10th-airline-to-join-skyteam/205560.html |archive-date=20 June 2014 | url-status=live}}{{Cite news | url=https://aviationweek.com/aeroflot-skyteam-sign-mou-admission | title=Aeroflot, SkyTeam Sign MOU For Admission | first=Jens | last=Flottau | work=Aviation Week & Space Technology | date=25 May 2004}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2004/05/24/daily3.html | title=Aeroflot plans to join SkyTeam alliance | work=American City Business Journals | date=24 May 2004 | url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811120333/http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2004/05/24/daily3.html |archive-date=11 August 2014| url-status=live}}{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3443407.stm|title=Aeroflot eyes Sky Team membership |date=29 January 2004 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402155659/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3443407.stm|archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=live}}

Aeroflot's cargo branch, Aeroflot-Cargo, which was reintegrated into the parent company in December 2009, operated as part of SkyTeam Cargo.{{cite news | url=https://www.aeroflot.ru/us-en/business/cargo_transport/skyteam_cargo | title=Aeroflot joins SkyTeam Cargo | publisher=Aeroflot}}

File:Aeroflot Bonus logo.png

Aeroflot's frequent-flyer program is called Aeroflot Bonus. It has four levels with various perks.{{Cite web | url=https://www.aeroflot.ru/us-en/afl_bonus/about_program | title=About Aeroflot Bonus | publisher=Aeroflot}}

{{Main list|Aeroflot accidents and incidents}}

Aeroflot has had a total of 8,231 passengers dying in Aeroflot crashes according to the Aircraft Crashes Record Office, mostly during the Soviet era, about five times more than any other airline.{{Cite web | url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/aeroflot-russian-international-airlines-history | title=History of Aeroflot--Russian International Airlines | publisher=FundingUniverse}} From 1946 to 1989, the carrier was involved in 721 incidents. In 2013, AirlineRatings.com reported that five of the ten aircraft models involved in the highest numbers of fatal accidents{{Cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/Least-safe-aircraft-models-revealed/ | title='Least safe' aircraft models revealed | last=Smith | first=Oliver | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=4 February 2016 | issn=0307-1235}} were old Soviet models.{{cite news | last=Smith | first=Oliver | title=Aeroflot: from world's deadliest airline to one of the safest in the sky | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/Aeroflot-from-worlds-deadliest-airline-to-one-of-the-safest-in-the-sky/ |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=9 February 2016}} From 1992 to 2020, the carrier was involved in 14 incidents; since 1996, only three incidents have resulted in fatalities.

In 2016, the company linked the pay of its flight attendants to their dress sizes. All the flight attendants were photographed and measured, and some were weighed. Women above a Russian size 48 were banned from international flights.{{cite news |title='Too fat to fly': Russian women fight job discrimination| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41254724 |work=BBC News |date=14 September 2017}} According to the flight attendants' trade union, the policy affected about 600 Aeroflot attendants. The company successfully defended itself in court in April 2017 by saying that a survey of Aeroflot passengers showed that "92% want to see stewardesses who fit into the clothes sizes we are talking about here"{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/25/passengers-dont-want-overweight-flight-crew-say-aeroflot-officials-after-lawsuits |title=Passengers don't want overweight flight crew, say Aeroflot officials after lawsuits | first=Shaun | last=Walker | work=The Guardian | date=25 April 2017}} and that every extra kilogram meant spending an extra ₽800 per year on fuel.{{cite news | title=Aeroflot flight attendants lose discrimination case after being branded 'old, fat and ugly' | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/aeroflot-female-flight-attendants-discrimination-case-old-fat-ugly-lose-russia-airline-legal-a7694836.html | first=Ben | last=Chapman | work=The Independent | date=21 April 2017 | url-access=limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421144401/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/aeroflot-female-flight-attendants-discrimination-case-old-fat-ugly-lose-russia-airline-legal-a7694836.html | archive-date=21 April 2017 | url-status=live}} The company denied all the accusations of discrimination.{{cite news | title=Aeroflot comments on accusations of discrimination against staff | url=https://www.aeroflot.ru/ru-en/news/60315 | publisher=Aeroflot | date=22 February 2017 | archive-date=10 September 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910212406/https://www.aeroflot.ru/ru-en/news/60315 | url-status=live}} In September 2017, the appeal court decided that requirements banning employment by women who wore large sizes was unenforceable and ordered ₽5,000 in compensation plus back pay for Yevgenia Magurina, a flight attendant who filed a discrimination suit; however, the court did not rule explicitly that the policy was discriminatory.{{cite news | url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2017/09/06/russian-flight-attendant-wins-suit-against-aeroflot-for-fat-discrimination-a58873 | title=Russian Flight Attendants Win Aeroflot Discrimination Case | newspaper=The Moscow Times | date=6 September 2017}}{{cite news | url=https://www.dw.com/en/russian-aeroflot-flight-attendants-win-uniform-discrimination-case/a-40393832 | title=Russian Aeroflot flight attendants win uniform discrimination case | first=Rob | last=Turner | agency=Agence France-Presse | work=Deutsche Welle | date=7 September 2017}}

In 2024, the relatively low pay of pilots and crews at Aeroflot compared to other airlines led to defection of staff.{{Cite news | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-aviation-aeroflot-business-sanctions/33088356.html | title=Overworked Pilots With 'Nothing To Fly': How War In Ukraine Is Crippling Russia's Aeroflot | work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | date=25 August 2024}} In 2024 and early 2025, pilots and flight attendants received a 30% pay increase.

In November 2018, per new rules by executive director Vitaly Savelyev, employees of the Moscow office of Aeroflot were forbidden to bring and use smartphones at work, allegedly to prevent them from taking videos.{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/aeroflot-cancels-passenger-elite-status-platinum-mitya-aleshkovsky-tweet-russia-a8651656.html | title=Airline cancels passenger's elite membership over 'insulting' tweet | first=Simon | last=Calder | work=The Independent | date=25 November 2018 | url-access=limited | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126102250/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/aeroflot-cancels-passenger-elite-status-platinum-mitya-aleshkovsky-tweet-russia-a8651656.html | archive-date=2018-11-26 | url-status=live}}

{{Importance section|talk="Incidents with flight attendants" subsection|date=December 2024}}

Flight attendants have been reported to be fired for incidents such as mocking the 2012 Mount Salak Sukhoi Superjet crash in an X post (later hired by Vkontakte),{{cite news | url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2012/06/18/flight-attendant-fired-for-joking-about-crash-hired-by-vkontakte-a15506 | title=Flight Attendant Fired for Joking About Crash Hired by Vkontakte | work=The Moscow Times | date=18 June 2012}}{{cite news | url=https://www.kp.ru/daily/25883/2845526/ | title=Экс-стюардесса "Аэрофлота" Екатерина Соловьева: "Я не хотела сделать больно родственникам погибших" | trans-title=Former Aeroflot flight attendant Ekaterina Solovieva: "I didn't want to hurt the relatives of the victims" | work=Komsomolskaya Pravda | date=16 May 2012 | language=ru}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2012/06/18/flight-attendant-fired-for-joking-about-crash-hired-by-vkontakte-a15506 | title=Flight Attendant Fired for Joking About Crash Hired by Vkontakte | work=The Moscow Times | date=18 June 2012}} posting an image online with a middle finger gesture directed to passengers (later rehired),{{Cite news | url=https://www.upi.com/story/photo/ol/UPI-6871360178516/1/ | title=Flight attendant fired for finger: Aeroflot employee sacked after middle finger photo goes viral | work=United Press International}}{{cite news | url=https://www.kp.ru/daily/26021.5/2942528/ |title=Стюардессу уволили за скандальную фотографию в соцсети | trans-title=Flight attendant fired for scandalous photo on social media | first=Александра | last=КРЫЛОВА | work=Komsomolskaya Pravda | date=28 January 2013 | language=ru}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/travel/aeroflot-rehire-flight-attendant-fired-over-obscene-gesture-photo-flna1b8287298 | title=Aeroflot to rehire flight attendant fired over obscene gesture photo | first=A. |last=Pawlowski | work=NBC News | date=7 February 2013}} and announcing Kaliningrad in English as Königsberg, its former German name.{{Cite news | url=https://meduza.io/en/news/2018/04/30/the-wrong-word-costs-an-aeroflot-stewardess-her-job | title=The wrong word costs an Aeroflot stewardess her job | work=Meduza | date=30 April 2018}}

• List of airports in Russia
• Transport in Russia
• Transport in the Soviet Union

{{NoteFoot}}

{{Country study}}

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last1=Buckley |first1=Christopher |title=Soviet-Era Airliners: The Final Three Decades |series=Historic Commercial Aircraft Series, Vol 1 |date=2022 |publisher=Key Publishing |location=Stamford, Lincs, UK |isbn=9781913870621 |url={{GBurl|E_5zEAAAQBAJ}}}}
• {{cite book |last=Jones |first=Mark |title=The Aeroflot Story: From Russia With Luck |year=2018 |publisher=Chronik Europa|isbn=978-1981094714}}
• {{cite book |last=Davies |first=R.E.G. |author-link=R.E.G. Davies |title=Aeroflot: An Airline and Its Aircraft|edition=1st |year=1992 |publisher=Paladwr Press |location=Rockville, Maryland |isbn=978-0-9626483-1-1}}
• {{cite book |last=MacDonald |first=Hugh |title=Aeroflot: Soviet air transport since 1923 |year=1975 |publisher=Putnam |isbn=978-0-370-00117-3}}

{{refend}}

{{Commons}}

• {{Official website|http://www.aeroflot.ru}} {{in lang|ru|en}}

{{Aeroflot}}

{{Navboxes

|list=

{{SkyTeam}}

{{Airlines of Russia}}

{{IATA members|cis}}

{{Moscow Exchange companies}}

}}

{{Portal bar|Russia|Soviet Union|Companies|Aviation}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1932 establishments in the Soviet Union

Category:Airlines established in 1932

Category:Airlines of Russia

Category:Airlines of the Soviet Union

Category:Arbat District

Category:Companies based in Moscow

Category:Companies in the MOEX

Category:Companies listed on the Moscow Exchange

Category:Former Aeroflot divisions

Category:Government-owned airlines

Category:Government-owned companies of Russia

Category:Russian brands

Category:SkyTeam

Category:Soviet brands

Category:Airlines banned in the European Union